Education (Curriculum) in Louisiana

passed · Louisiana · Senate May 4, 2026

SR 90: COMMENDATIONS: Commends and congratulates Gerald "Jerry" Badgley on the occasion of his retirement as principal of C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Senate Resolution 90 is a formal commendation honoring Gerald 'Jerry' Badgley for his retirement as the principal of C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. The resolution recognizes his twenty-plus years of service, highlighting his leadership in improving school facilities and curriculum, as well as his role in producing numerous distinguished alumni. This legislative action serves to publicly acknowledge his contributions to the school and the broader community, with no changes to laws or policies.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

passed · Louisiana · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 520: CURRICULA: Provides for the Louisiana Jump Start Modernization Act. (gov sig)

This bill modernizes Louisiana's high school career and technical education system by creating a structured pathway that leads to a new "Career Diploma." It directly affects K-12 students, educators, and employers by establishing a four-stage developmental framework that begins in seventh grade and ensures every student has access to these programs regardless of their location. Key provisions include the creation of a membership collaborative to oversee the program, the requirement for individualized career plans for students, and the guarantee that credits earned through these pathways will be accepted by all Louisiana postsecondary institutions. The legislation also introduces new roles such as qualified career coaches and sets standards for work-based learning to better align education with current industry needs.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum K-12 Education

passed · Louisiana · House May 28, 2026

HR 249: STUDENT/STANDARDS: Requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to incorporate artificial intelligence into content standards

This legislative resolution asks the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to update school content standards to include artificial intelligence. The bill aims to ensure students learn about AI in a way that is safe, private, and ethical while preparing them for future work and civic life. By incorporating AI into academic instruction, the measure seeks to help Louisiana remain competitive in technology and other fields. The request is directed at the state education board, which is responsible for setting curriculum standards for public schools.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Curriculum Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Louisiana · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 524: CURRICULA: Creates the Louisiana Jump Start Modernization Act. (8/1/26) (EG INCREASE GF EX See Note)

This bill modernizes Louisiana's high school career and technical education system by creating a new framework known as the Louisiana Jump Start Modernization Act. It directly affects K-12 students, educators, and employers by establishing a structured pathway that allows students to earn a specialized Career Diploma recognized by all state colleges and universities. Key provisions include requiring every student starting in seventh grade to create an individual career plan, setting up a collaborative governance body to oversee program quality, and ensuring that students in rural areas have access to the same rigorous coursework as those in urban districts. The legislation also mandates the use of detailed wage data from employers to track student outcomes and defines specific roles for career coaches to guide students through their technical training.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum K-12 Education

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 973: STUDENTS: Provides for the development, review, and revision of student high school graduation plans

This bill updates Louisiana law to require high school students to create Individual Graduation Plans starting in eighth grade, with guidance from school counselors or career coaches. The plans must outline graduation requirements tailored to each student's postsecondary goals by tenth grade and include a recommended course sequence for earning a standard diploma. Key provisions allow career coaches to assume some responsibilities previously held by counselors and mandate written parent approval for any plan revisions, except when parents opt out of required review meetings. The legislation aims to help students make informed decisions about their education and career paths through structured planning and regular review processes.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

passed both · Louisiana · House May 26, 2026

HCR 26: STUDENT/STANDARDS: Requests that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education incorporate the science of human growth and development into content standards and to provide curriculum and instructional materials on its website

This bill requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to update science and health education standards to include the science of human growth and development, specifically covering prenatal growth and fetal development. It asks the board to provide age-appropriate instructional materials, such as high-definition ultrasound videos or computer-generated animations, on its website to support teaching these topics. The resolution also requires the board to submit a written report to state education committees by March 1, 2027, detailing any actions taken in response to these requests. This is a non-binding concurrent resolution that urges the board to consider these changes rather than mandating them.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 1059: TOPS: Provides relative to core curriculum requirements for TOPS and TOPS-Tech awards in the subject of mathematics (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

This bill updates the mathematics course requirements for students to qualify for Louisiana's TOPS scholarship awards, including Opportunity, Performance, Honors, Excellence, and TOPS-Tech programs. It establishes specific math course sequences that students must complete, allowing them to choose between traditional Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II or an alternative integrated mathematics sequence. The law sets different requirements based on graduation year, with some students needing three math units while others need four, and it expands course options for TOPS-Tech recipients to include applied math and computer science classes. These changes directly affect high school students graduating between 2021 and 2030 who wish to receive state scholarship funding.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 1149: CURRICULA: Requires each public school to incorporate instruction on artificial intelligence into an existing course of study for each student in grades six through twelve (OR NO IMPACT See Note)

This bill requires Louisiana public schools to include artificial intelligence instruction in their existing courses for students in grades six through twelve. The law directs the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to create rules to implement this requirement. Schools must integrate AI education into current curricula rather than creating separate classes. The measure applies to all public schools in the state and affects middle and high school students.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 787: CURRICULA: Removes successful completion of a computer science course as a requirement for TOPS qualification (OR NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 787 removes computer science as a mandatory course requirement for Louisiana students seeking TOPS-Tech scholarships. The bill amends the state's education code to change the "nine credits in Jump Start course sequences" requirement so that computer science is no longer a fixed credit; students may now fulfill this credit with other approved career-focused courses instead. This directly affects high school students in Louisiana who qualify for TOPS-Tech awards by altering the specific course requirements they must complete. The change simplifies the path to TOPS eligibility by offering flexibility in course selection within career pathways.

Topics ✓ Education ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum K-12 Education

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 262: STUDENT/ASSESSMENT: Prohibits requiring students to pass state-administered end-of-course (LEAP) tests in order to graduate from high school

HB 262 removes a requirement for Louisiana high school students to pass state-administered end-of-course tests (like the LEAP assessments) to earn a diploma. It states that students who successfully complete all required coursework (Carnegie units) for graduation will automatically receive a high school diploma, regardless of their test scores. The bill directly affects all Louisiana public high school students by eliminating a barrier to graduation tied to standardized testing. This policy change shifts graduation eligibility solely to course completion, not test performance, for the first time under Louisiana's current framework.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

All education bills